Make Sunday really super

I recently got an email from Pillsbury that I really want to share: Pillsbury is celebrating America’s passion for Super Bowl parties by unveiling the edible snackadium.

Just look at the photo: It is the ultimate appetizer creation.

By visiting Pillsbury.com/Snackadium party hosts can learn how to create their own edible Snackadium, sure to be a big hit with football fans. The Snackadium is the perfect food for game day parties because it can be tailored to feed any number of guests and will be extrememly memorable — Trust me, your guests will be talking about it way into baseball season.

Of course, when we make it, it may not look as professional at Pillsbury’s, but it will still look impressive.

Try it at your Super Bowl party and send me the photo. I’d love to see it. Make all your favorite appetizers, and it will be talk of your party.

Buffalo macaraoni and cheese

I also heard from Dietz & Watson and Chef Walter Staib about ideas for game day. You may feel you have to keep the “Buffalo” and the “chicken” on the menu, but they suggest two unique, tasty recipes! Recipes are courtesy of Chef Walter Staib.

2. Bring a large saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil, and toss in the fusilli. Boil until just slightly firm (al dente), drain in a colander (do not rinse), and set aside momentarily.

3. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, stir in the flour to form a smooth paste (roux), and cook for about 1 minute. Pour in the milk, whisking constantly, and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, season with salt and white pepper, and add the nutmeg and thyme. Stir in the cheeses a bit at a time until incorporated and smooth.

4. Add the fusilli and chicken to the cheese sauce, stirring gently to coat, and pour into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle the top evenly with Parmesan cheese, and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the casserole from the oven, and place under the broiler until bubbly and golden brown. (Watch carefully to prevent the top from burning.) 5. Sprinkle with paprika, and serve hot.

2. Lay the pizza crust flat on a work surface and spread generously with the pizza sauce.

3. Top with the chicken and cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted, about 10-15 minutes.

Party tips

QVC’s Resident Foodie David Venable offers his top tips to be a game stopping host. He has some really good ideas:

The Super Bowl just isn’t the Super Bowl without all that food. Dips, wings, sandwiches, beer … you name it, your guests want it. In fact, the USDA says aside from Thanksgiving, there’s no other day of the year when Americans consume more food.

Now, don’t panic, fearless host. You don’t need to make umpteen dishes. And, you needn’t buy out the grocery store. Set your sights on a few key recipes and prepare them ahead of time. Buy what is too costly or time-consuming to make at home. Throwing a Super Bowl party can be just as much fun as watching the game itself…you’ll see!

Men like chips. And pretzels. And beer. Plus, I’ve never seen a guy turn down pigs-in-a-blanket. Football goes hand-in-hand with these traditional snacks and you’ll have a wildly happy crowd if you offer the classics. But, there’s always room for something new. Especially if it’s a spin on a classic like my Buffalo Chicken Dip (see recipe below), which takes just 35 minutes to make. It’s spicy, creamy, and addictive. Plus, there’s no mess and no expensive wing platter needed!
Most women will indulge in a few classics, but may prefer lighter options. Offer crackers and veggies with that Buffalo Chicken Dip.
So what should you buy? Get the chips and munchies and stock up on disposable cups, napkins, and plates. A splurge that makes sense is a meat and cheese platter for sandwiches and perhaps a veggie platter. Leave beer and alcoholic drinks for your guests to bring and make your own iced tea or lemonade. You’ll save a lot of money this way, and your guests will buy exactly what they like.
When it comes to dessert, you can’t go wrong with brownies. They require minimal ingredients and can be cut into any size.
I say don’t bother making the brownies from scratch — these days brownie mixes are great.

Here is the recipe for David’s dip:

BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP

INGREDIENTS:

2 store-bought rotisserie chickens, skinned and finely shredded

3 (8-oz) packages cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup ranch dressing

3/4 cup blue cheese dressing

1 cup Buffalo wing sauce

3 cups Colby Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

Tortilla chips (optional, for serving)

Crackers (optional, for serving)

Carrots (optional, for serving)

Celery (optional, for serving)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Beat the cream cheese, ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, and hot sauce until creamy and fully combined. Fold in the shredded chicken and 11/2cups of the shredded cheese.

3. Spread the mixture into the 3.5-quart dish and bake for 25 minutes.

4. Remove the dip from the oven and sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top. Bake for another 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

5. Allow the dip to cool for 10 minutes, then serve it with tortilla chips, crackers, carrots, celery, or a combination there of.

Comments

About Susan Weiner

Susan Weiner is the editor of the Table section for the Asbury Park Press. She loves to cook, loves to eat out and is always looking for a new restaurant to try or a new dish to cook.

About this Blog

For people who love to eat, drink, cook and dine out

About the Author

Susan WeinerSusan Weiner is the editor of the Table section for the Asbury Park Press. She loves to cook, loves to eat out and is always looking for a new restaurant to try or a new dish to cook.E-mail Susan